Re: [SLUG] Why Gentoo?

[Ben de Luca <c9415120@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, 2002-12-15 at 03:51, Andrew Bennetts wrote:
> On Sun, Dec 01, 2002 at 08:34:37PM +1000, Ben de Luca wrote:
> > 
> > > Does spending hours compiling really save you time?  Does your system really
> > > run so much faster that it outweighs the time spent compiling?
> > Well it doesnt really take that much time off me. If i want a bit of
> > software, I can normaly set up and @ job and know its there in the
> > morning. The interactive speed of a gentoo system seems to be
> > significantly faster than the binary distrobutions I have used. 
> 
> Well, there's no reason why you couldn't do this with other distros as well.
> They all provide the source.

to true, I never said you couldnt its just nice to be able to do its
with one line. 

> > Its central system for install new software is great (yes i know deb can
> > do this too). I prefer to configure my systems, by the use of files and
> > not some OS specific application.I know where all the files i need to
> > configure live, rather than having to track down some weird app.

> Debian generally uses config files in predictable places for configuration
> (thanks to its strict packaging policies), but does provide a few
> configuration tools, for instance for XFree86 -- but even that's optional.
> I've heard horror stories about people attempting to configure X and so
> forth from scratch on Gentoo, which sounds like wasted effort when it's a
> solved problem in most distros, but perhaps Gentoo is now a little more
> advanced?

you support my argument here, genrally is not equal to always. As for
problems with X11 setup it should be easy as XFree86 --configure, this
should work for all XFree86's no matter if its on debian, redhat,
slackware, yellow dog, and all those wonderfull bsd's. 

> > As i mentioned in an earlier post, I run a few different arch machines
> > here at home. And it suits me to have to only download source files. I
> > dont want to have to download 3 binary files.
> 
> Again, I still don't see why Gentoo is special here :)
 
> > Overall i find that gentoo suits my needs so thats why I use. It may not
> > be right for everyone. 
> 
> Well, if it suits you and you're happy, it's hard to argue with that :)

Really I started this all off by asking what was wrong with gentoo, and
I havnt really heard much about that. Most of the replies were whats
great about debian.

<and now to attract some wonderful flames>
The major reason that I stay clear of debian is that there appears to be
a VERY vocal miniority that want to go far out of there way to win a my
distro is better than yours competetion. Technicaly I think debs a great
achievment. And i would probably use it but for these people.


Ben de Luca